Cleveland



C. W. HOBART.

OAR.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 6. 1919.

Patented Dec. 9,1919.

fnvamtoz C WHoba r ffy-vwl am UNITED STATESV 7 YCLEVELAND w. HoBAn-T, or BnooksvrLILE, FLORIDA.

OAR.

vTo all whom timely concern:

Be it known that I, CLEVELAND W. Ho-` BART, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooksville, in the county of Hernando and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this'invention is to provide simple and eiificient means whereby the labor of propelling a row boat or other vessel through water will be minimized and to that end the invention seeks to provide an oar or paddle which upon its working stroke will be expanded so as to present a broad expanse of surface to the water and upon its return stroke will collapse so as Ato cut through the water with a minimum resistance. The invention also seeks to provide simple and eiicient means for limiting the expanding movement of the .oar or paddle. A

rIhe invention is illustrated'in the accompanying drawing, in which* y Figure l is a perspective view showing a practical embodiment thereof;

Fig. 2 is an end view showing the blades or wingsV collapsed Ain full lines and expanded in dotted lines;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the oar showing a wing or blade and the manner of mounting the same.

In the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of a row boat having an outstanding frame or support 2 secured to and projecting from its side, which frame or support may be of any convenient or preferred construction. Upon the outer end of this frame, Il mount Va bracket 3 through which the oar shank or handle 4 is inserted and by which the said shank or handle'fis supported for rocking movement. At the outer or lower end of the shank 4, I provide a stem or rod 5 upon which wings or blades 6 are supported so as Vto swing pivotally thereabout. A pair of wings or blades is employed and each blade or wing is provided at or adjacent its ends with eyes or collars 7 encircling the stem 5 so as to swing freely about the same and after the said eyes or collars are mounted upon the stem, stop pins 8 are Vinserted through the stem so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the wings or blades. The wings or blades are, of course, imperforate and may be of any suitable material, being preferably constructed of sheet metal so as to attain the Specicaton of Letters Patent. Y Application aies June e, 191s.

. handle will be ^serial Nogoasos.

' Patented Dec. 9, v11919.

maximum strength withVY the minimum i weight. Secured to the stem 5 and extendf ing laterally therefrom between the wings or blades is an ar1n'9 which may be sup# ported upon the stem in any desired man-` nerand is illustrated asprovid'edV with an eye or collar l0 equipped with a set screwll ladapted to bind upon .the stem so as to hold the arm against movement..y Between the free end of the arm and the free edges of the wings or blades are flexible connections l2 which will collapse, as shown in Fig. 2, when the wings are closed againstpthey arm but-willV freely extend upon the working stroke of the wings so that. the expanding movement of the wings will be limited by the said connections becoming taut. These connections may be light chains or cables as is obvious.

The use of the invention is thought to be evident. The handle or shank 4 is oscillated or reciprocated so that the stem 5 with the blades thereon will work back and forthv in the water. Upon the working stroke, the water will enterbetween the free edges of thebladesand by its resistance to the move ment of the blades will cause the same to expand so that a large surface will be presented to Vthe water and, consequently, a strong ulcrum for the movement of the oar provided. The boat will, therefore, be propelled rapidly vwith a minimum expenditure of labor. Upon the return stroke of the oar handle, the force of the water will be exerted against the blades at the side opposite the flexible connections so that the blades will be forced into closed position against the'arm 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. They will then present merely their edges to the water and will cut through the same with a minimum resistance and the work of the rower will be lessened.V

My device is exceedingly simple infits construction and may be produced at a very low cost. It will be found highly eiii'cientV in operation and is not aptto get out of order. It will always be in operative conditionunlessit should be accidentally damaged or become worn out through long continued use.V The lateral arm 9 and the between the same and the wings do not interfere with the free movement of the blades vflexible connections,-

encircling the stem and" soY blade can swing across the line of draft. Consequently, a portion of the blade surface will always be presented to the water at the beginning of the working stroke and the blades will instantly move apart.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

An oar comprising a shank, a pair of wings lprovided at their ends with collars l0 encircling the shank for pivotal movement thereon, stops on the shank above and below said collars to prevent longitudinal movenient of the wings, a stop arm rigidly secured upon the shank and extending laterally therefrom between the wings, and connections between the free end -of said arm and the free edges oi' the wings whereby to limit the opening movement of the wings.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

CLEVELAND W. HOBART. [1.. 8.] 

